Chased out of restaurant, but Muslims, Christians pull off landmark Malaysia Day dialogue
Anil Netto
A dramatic Malaysia Day in Butterworth that had a happy ending. Despite two police reports lodged against them and having to switch venues twice, including suffering the indignity of being chased out of a restaurant, participants of a Muslim-Christian interfaith dialogue yesterday refused to give up.
Instead they finally held their Malaysia Day interfaith dialogue at the St Mark’s Anglican Church in Butterworth – their original choice of venue – last night.
The dialogue was organised by Tasik Gelugor Pas information chief Abdul Rahman Kasim and Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa of Pas and Reverend John Kennedy representing the St Mark’s Church.
But a police report was lodged in Penang Island on Saturday by someone from a small group said to be representing ‘Muka Buku’ which also staged a little protest there. Another police report was believed to have been lodged in Butterworth on Sunday, along with a similar small protest.
When Rev John Kennedy heard of these protests, he and his church felt it best to switch to an alternative venue to avoid any unpleasant scenes at the church – a decision the police were believed to have been pleased with. (Incidentally, it was John who had received a threatening note in his mailbox some time ago, warning of a possible bible-burning fiesta at the Butterworth padang, not far away from the church – an event that failed to materialise.)
The new venue for the event, scheduled for 9.00pm to 11.00pm, was Saravanan Restaurant along Jalan Kampung Benggali, just a short distance from the Butterworth Police Station. Arrangements were made for a dinner and discussion for about 30 participants. When he heard about the new venue, Mujahid was not happy: he had been looking forward to having the dialogue at the church.
Outside the restaurant, the police presence was building up, with a mobile police van parked in a side lane opposite the restaurant. Journalists and plainclothes began milling on the road outside the restaurant and they began entering the function room on the first floor of the restaurant. About 30 members of the church were in attendance along with 20 journalists and plainclothes police. Meanwhile, about 10 Muslims believed to be the group that was unhappy with the event also turned up.
